The LVCVA Host Committee's role is to welcome major conventions and special events to the city and take a leading role in educating the local Las Vegas and Southern Nevada community on the importance of tourism to our local economy. Host Committee Chairman Oscar B. Goodman is charged with being the No. 1 Ambassador for tourism in Las Vegas. As such, he welcomes visitors to Las Vegas and rallies the local residents behind our leading industry: tourism. Prior to serving as Chairman of the Host Committee, Oscar B. Goodman served as the “Happiest Mayor in the Universe” for Las Vegas. In April 2007, he captured 84% of the vote in his re- election to a third four-year term. During his tenure as mayor, he had many accomplishments in the heart of downtown, including Symphony Park, a phenomenal 61-acre planned development which includes the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry. The park also includes The Smith Center for the Performing Arts and the Discovery Children’s Museum. Also planned for this site are an arena, a boutique hotel, multiple high-rise residential units and mixed use opportunities. At the conclusion of his last term, he did what no other mayor has ever done, swore in his wife Carolyn Goodman to succeed him as the new Mayor of Las Vegas. Mr. Goodman was born and raised in Philadelphia; he graduated from Haverford College and received his law degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. He has been recognized by the National Law Journal as one of the “15 Best Trial Lawyers in America.” In addition to his work as the No. 1 ambassador of Las Vegas, he has taken up acting, playing himself in the movie Casino and most recently starring on an episode of the prime time hit series CSI: Las Vegas. Mr. Goodman is the author of the highly acclaimed Being Oscar: From Mob Lawyer to Mayor of Las Vegas, published by Weinstein Publishing in May 2013. (BOARD OF REGENTS 03/05/20 & 03/06/20) Ref. BOR-12f, Page 1 of 14 Oscar Goodman Oscar Baylin Goodman (born July 26, 1939) is an American Oscar Goodman attorney and politician. He was the mayor of Las Vegas, Nevada from 1999 to 2011. His wife, Carolyn Goodman, succeeded him as mayor in 2011. Goodman is an Independent.[1] Contents Biography Significant events Seeking higher office Criticism Ethics investigation Remarks to schoolchildren Goodman in 2003 Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas 21st Mayor of Las Vegas Legalized prostitution In office See also June 8, 1999 – July 6, 2011 Notes Preceded by Jan Laverty Jones References Succeeded by Carolyn Goodman External links Personal details Born Oscar Baylin Goodman Biography July 26, 1939 Goodman was born and raised in a Jewish family in Philadelphia. Philadelphia, After attending Central High School[2] for a time, he graduated Pennsylvania, U.S. from The Haverford School,[3] Haverford College and received Political party Independent his J.D. degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. (2009–present) He and his wife Carolyn have four children. Other political Democratic (1989– affiliations 2009) During his career as a defense attorney he represented defendants accused of being some of the leading organized crime figures in Spouse(s) Carolyn Goldmark (m. 1962) Las Vegas, such as Meyer Lansky, Nicky Scarfo, Herbert "Fat Herbie" Blitzstein, Phil Leonetti, former Stardust Casino boss Children 4, including Ross Frank 'Lefty' Rosenthal, and Jamiel "Jimmy" Chagra, a 1970s Residence Las Vegas, drug trafficker who was acquitted of ordering the murder of Nevada, U.S. Federal Judge John H. Wood, Jr. One of his notorious clients was Alma mater Haverford College reputed Chicago mobster Anthony "Tony the Ant" Spilotro, who (B.A.) was known to have a short and violent temper. In the semi-factual University of 1995 movie Casino, the character of Nicky Santoro was based on Pennsylvania Law Spilotro and was portrayed by actor Joe Pesci. Goodman had a School (J.D.) (BOARD OF REGENTS 03/05/20 & 03/06/20) Ref. BOR-12f, Page 2 of 14 cameo appearance in the film as himself while defending "Ace Profession Attorney and Rothstein", a character closely based on Lefty Rosenthal and politician played by Robert De Niro. Goodman and his wife were active in the local Jewish federation soon after they moved to Las Vegas in 1964 as well, with Carolyn eventually serving as head of the federation's women's divisions.[4] Goodman also represented former San Diego Mayor Roger Hedgecock, who was convicted of accepting illegal campaign contributions and eventually forced to resign. Hedgecock was later cleared of all charges on appeal. In 1980-81, he served as president of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.[5] Goodman was a senior partner in the law firm of Goodman & Chesnoff.[6] Goodman currently serves as Of Counsel to Goodman Law Group, a Las Vegas law firm formed by his son, Ross C. Goodman.[7] Goodman was elected mayor of Las Vegas on June 8, 1999, receiving 32,765 (63.76 percent) votes while his opponent, then-Las Vegas City Councilman Arnie Adamsen, received 18,620 (36.24 percent). Goodman was re-elected to a second four-year term in 2003, defeating five opponents and receiving 29,356 (85.72 percent) of the votes. On April 3, 2007, he was re-elected to a third and final term with 26,845 votes (83.69 percent), again defeating five opponents. Las Vegas law prevents the mayor, who has been called the town's "most popular mayor",[8] from serving more than three terms. His wife was elected to succeed him as mayor in 2011, winning 60% of the vote.[9] Goodman was a member of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority before being elected mayor. Significant events Goodman appears as himself in the 1995 Martin Scorsese film Casino. Later on, he made another brief appearance in the film Looney Tunes: Back in Action on the DVD extras. In 2006 he appeared as himself in the Direct-to-DVD film Bachelor Party Vegas and respectively in 2015 and 2016 did interviews for the television programs The Making of the Mob: New York and The Making of the Mob: Chicago. On June 8, 1999, he was elected mayor of Las Vegas. On June 28, 1999, Goodman was the first mayor of Las Vegas to have his image placed on $5 and $25 casino chips issued by a Las Vegas casino. The two chips were issued by the Four Queens Hotel and Casino in Downtown Las Vegas. In 2006, the Four Queens put out a $200 Silver Strike with the likeness of Oscar on it. In 2000, a bobblehead doll was issued as a promotion during a Las Vegas 51s baseball game. Mayor Goodman was an invited celebrity photographer for the Playboy Cyber Club. He shot a topless pictorial of Miss January 2001 Irina Voronina for the website. In 2002, he became a spokesman for Bombay Sapphire gin, receiving a $100,000 salary which was donated to charity, including $50,000 donated to The Meadows School, a private school in Las Vegas founded by his wife Carolyn. (BOARD OF REGENTS 03/05/20 & 03/06/20) Ref. BOR-12f, Page 3 of 14 In April 2003, he was re-elected for a second four-year term, winning 86% the vote,[10] and becoming one of the most popular politicians elected to office in Las Vegas.[11] In 2003, Las Vegas Review-Journal columnist John L. Smith wrote a book titled Of Rats and Men: Oscar Goodman's Life from Mob Mouthpiece to Mayor of Las Vegas, which chronicles Goodman's life, including 35 years spent defending notorious U.S. crime figures, including, among others, Meyer Lansky, Anthony "Tony The Ant" Spilotro and Frank "Lefty" Rosenthal (The last two were portrayed respectively, and under different names, in the film Casino by Joe Pesci and Robert De Niro). In 2003, Goodman was voted the Least Effective Public Official in the Review-Journal's annual reader's poll.[12] Goodman has been vocal about having a Major League Baseball team relocate to Las Vegas. In 2004, the city failed to secure a move by the Montreal Expos to the city. Instead, the team relocated to Washington, D.C. and became the Washington Nationals. Later that year, Goodman met with officials of the Florida Marlins. The Chicago White Sox were considering a move but talks fell through after Chicago officials provided incentives for the team to stay. During his time as mayor, Goodman tried to get a National Football League team to relocate to Las Vegas. On April 24, 2006, he called the San Diego Chargers and asked if they would be interested in moving. Because of a contract, the city could not talk about a possible move. On January 4, 2007 he called again, since the team was not allowed to talk to other cities about a possible move. Again, Goodman was turned down "for the time being.[13] According to Mark Fabiani, the Chargers general counsel, Goodman is a longtime season ticket holder of the Chargers and a fan.[14] Ultimately in 2017, under the tenure of his wife as mayor the Oakland Raiders agreed to relocate to Las Vegas for the 2020 season. The Chargers ultimately relocated to Los Angeles. Goodman was angered by President Barack Obama's negative remarks about Las Vegas in 2009 and 2010.[15] He guest starred twice as himself on the CBS series CSI in the episodes "Sqweegel" while defending Ann-Margret's character from being harassed by the LVPD, and "Maid Man", first appearing at the opening of the Mob Museum, which was re-created for the show in advance of its opening.[16] His memoir, Being Oscar: From Mob Lawyer to Mayor of Las Vegas,[17] written with George Anastasia, was published in 2013.[18] On September 27, 2018, Goodman was interviewed by entrepreneur and Independent journalist Patrick Bet–David.[19] Seeking higher office Goodman briefly entertained challenging presidential son Jack Carter for the Democratic nomination to run against incumbent Republican U.S.